Desperate defence and Jonny Wilkinson's boot kept Newcastle in contention against Wasps at Adams Park, but it was ultimately not enough as Rob Andrew's side slumped to the bottom of the Zurich Premiership after Bath's victory over Saracens.

The first score of the match came after just four minutes when Newcastle captain Wilkinson scored from just inside his own half with a penalty, after earlier missing from 40 metres out in front of the posts.

Wasps immediately hit back however, moving the ball from deep in their own half to create space for powerful winger John Rudd, who made 40m before offloading to Fraser Waters.

The England A centre set up a ruck, catching the stretched Falcon's defence offside and Wasps' fly-half Alex King kicked the resulting penalty to level the scores after six minutes.

Twenty-one-year-old Rudd was looking dangerous every time he touched the ball.

A flowing move across the pitch gave Rudd another chance and after again beating his opposite number Liam Botham, the winger slipped the ball inside to Mark Denny, but the increasingly pressurised Newcastle defence managed to hold out.

The home side kept up the pressure however and King chipped the ball forward into the Falcon's 22. Newcastle flanker Warren Britz attempted an ambitious tap back to Joe Shaw but totally missed the full-back and Rudd pounced on the ball to dive over from five metres. King converted to leave the score 10-3.

Wilkinson then had a chance to bring Newcastle back into the match but missed his second penalty from three attempts. Normal service resumed for the England international when he scored his second penalty after 36 minutes when Wasps were guilty of handling in the ruck.

With the last kick of the half Wilkinson reduced Wasps' lead to a single point with a drop goal.

The second half was dominated by the home side but a mixture of stout defence by Newcastle, scrappy play by Wasps and poor penalty kicking by King and replacement Kenny Logan always kept the visitors in with an outside chance.

King did increase the home side's lead after 70 minutes but Wilkinson responded three minutes later with another penalty to leave the teams separated by just one point at 13-12.

Wasps continued to press but eventually had to settle for a narrow win.

Teams:

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Rudd, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.

Replacements: Wood, Greening, Logan, Denney, Lock, Scrivener, Mackenzie.

Tries: Rudd.

Cons: A. King.

Pens: A. King 2.

Newcastle: Shaw, Botham, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, J. Wilkinson, Grindal, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Hamilton, Grimes, Taione, Britz, Vyvyan.

Replacements: MacLure, Dowson, Mower, Thompson, Ward, May, Charlton.

Pens: J. Wilkinson 3.

Drop Goals: J. Wilkinson.

Att: 6,199

Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).